November 2016 SUV Sales – Mixing It Up

Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler Fall Off Top 10

November 2016 brought quite a few surprises for SUV sales. As usual, C-segment crossovers dominated the top five. However, there were a few surprises there as well. Once again, the Toyota RAV4 stole the crown from the perennial favorite Honda CR-V. The CR-V didn’t even come in Second but Third, behind the resurgent Nissan Rogue. The Ford Escape and Chevy Equinox rounded out the Top Five, respectively.

Further down the list, there was a shakeup in the customary order, with only one Jeep model, the Grand Cherokee, making the Top 10 cut. The Wrangler and Cherokee came in 11th and 12th, respectively. The high-riding wagon Subaru Outback climbed its way to Seventh place, while the Forester grabbed 10th.

1) Toyota RAV4 – 28,116, Up 2.7 Percent
The RAV4 took the crown for November, edging out the surprisingly strong Nissan Rogue by just under 1,000 units. Seasonal incentives, along with a broad lineup including a hybrid model helped the RAV4 find plenty of homes in November.

2) Nissan Rogue – 26,629, Up 18.0 Percent
The Rogue continues to surprise with its consistently strong sales performances, becoming a formidable force to be reckoned with. Its strong value proposition, along with a new hybrid model, keep it a popular choice among crossover shoppers.

3) Honda CR-V – 25,758, Down 0.7 Percent
The CR-V may be down a little for November, but it’s far from out. An all-new model is due in showrooms soon and is sure to pique shoppers’ interest. We foresee the CR-V taking back its first place spot in the months ahead.

4) Ford Escape – 23,012, Up 10.6 Percent
The Escape may have fallen to fourth place for November, but it remains the top-selling domestic-brand SUV. A facelift for 2017 adds more convenience and tech features, as well as a more rugged-looking visage. In a little more than a year, the Escape will be joined by the B-segment EcoSport for entry-level crossover buyers.

5) Chevrolet Equinox – 21,600, Up 10 Percent
The Equinox rounds out the Top Five for November with a respectable 21,600 units sold. The all-new 2018 model is due in showrooms in less than a year. Fans of the 3.6L V-6 will be disappointed to learn that the new ’Nox is four-cylinder only. However, an available 1.6L turbodiesel I-4 keeps the powertrain choices interesting.

6) Toyota Highlander – 21,241, Up 66.7 Percent
The Highlander is a nameplate that we haven’t consistently seen on the Top 10 list in quite a while. This month, it takes the crown as the best-selling midsize model, besting the Explorer as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. A new, more powerful 3.5L V-6 and eight-speed transmission keep things interesting, as well as a bunch more USB ports to power mobile gizmos for rear-seat passengers.

7) Subaru Outback – 17,769, Up 35.9 Percent
The Outback proves Americans will in fact still buy wagons, if they’re marketed the right way. Subaru’s midsize wagony crossover came in a strong Seventh Place overall. A replacement for the unloved Tribeca three-row crossover is due soon, which will round out Subaru’s crossover-heavy, but successful, lineup.

8) Ford Explorer – 17,245, Up 13.9 Percent
The Explorer remains comfortably on the Top 10 list, but not in its usual place among the best-selling midsize models. Despite seasonal sales fluctuations, the Explorer remains a staple in Ford’s SUV lineup and is its second-best selling SUV after the Escape and the brand’s third best-selling non-pickup model.

9) Jeep Grand Cherokee – 17,230, Down 2 Percent
The Grand Cherokee finds itself in the unusual position of being the only Jeep brand model on the Top 10 list. The Cherokee and Wrangler barely missed making the Top 10 cut for the month, but count on them coming back in the months ahead. A subtle redesign on the 2017 models keeps things interesting.

10) Subaru Forester – 14,596, Up 6.9 Percent
The Forester rounds out November’s Top 10 list and, along with its big brother Outback, highlights the brand’s increasing importance in the SUV and crossover segment. Aside from the low-range Cherokee, the Forester remains one of the most capable crossovers off-road, thanks to its impressive ground clearance and Subaru’s proven all-wheel-drive system.